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No idea Rory Stewart had such a cool backstory

188 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 17/06/2019 11:45

Have a look at these links from 15-20 years ago - wish he was my mp - and I don’t even vote conservative.

www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/books/review/11cover_bissel.html

www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n17/rory-stewart/diary?utm_source=LRB+icymi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190616+icymi&utm_content=ukrw_subs_icymi (This is subscriber only but you get one free article I think - extraordinary writing).

OP posts:
IcedPurple · 18/06/2019 12:44

Sure, but the question still needs to be asked.

Fleetheart · 18/06/2019 12:55

@icedpurple why does it need to be asked? Surely it’s no bad thing if someone was a spy for our country? But it’s got to be kept secret. And if he wasn’t- well no problem there either. Crikey, we don’t all need to know everything do we?

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 18/06/2019 12:55

I mean, we could all have a 'cool backstory' if we had a daddy who was a diplomat. Unfortunately, most of us have to work for our money.

He seems knowledgeable, well-read and has interesting hobbies. I could probably have a drink with him as long as we didn't discuss his politics which I find abhorrent.

Alsohuman · 18/06/2019 12:56

What’s the point of asking a question he’s not allowed to answer?

IcedPurple · 18/06/2019 12:57

Crikey, we don’t all need to know everything do we?

I'm not sure if the fact that a potential PM may have worked for the intelligence services is 'knowing everything'. It's hardly like wanting to know how he likes his coffee in the morning, is it? Seems rather relevant to me.

Teddybear45 · 18/06/2019 12:58

Narendra Modi did similar things (including a lot of charity work) too. Didn’t stop him from joining India’s NAZI equivalent party.

Graphista · 18/06/2019 12:58

"I don't think his background is cool privileged and interesting but not cool" this!

He's still a Tory and he still doesn't give a shit about people far worse off than him and his.

He clearly has excellent PR people though.

Pepperpot99 spot on!

GE NOW!!

"We don't want cool for a PM thanks, we want competence." Hear hear!

"He served in the army" less than a year, never saw any kind of active service - essentially a bumped up cadet!

"traveled the not so nice bits" actually stuck to fairly safe areas and had guidance and protection

"I can't see how a good education precludes him from being PM." A privileged education does not necessarily equal a good education, he has zero experience of anything approaching real life for ordinary people.

"He might be more competent than Boris, but fuck that’s a low bar."
Terrifyingly so

Adropofreality - nice! You just want to silence those speaking out against the current policies which ARE an attack on the poor, sick and disabled. They HAVE literally lead to deaths - in the form of suicides, but also deaths due to malnutrition, poor medicine storage, prevented from accessing medical help etc.

This govt HAS actively been blocking coroners from obtaining evidence via FOI applications for several years.

"It is incredible how labour supporters still do not realise that the labour government left us in financial dire straits, and when the crash happened in 2008 our country was very nearly ruined." Its incredible to me people still believe that! It was a GLOBAL financial crisis mainly caused by poor economic policies in the USA, the new labour govt (who if you AS me you will see I am not a particular fan of) actually responded very well to, but which Tory protectionist policies have undermined and wrecked!

The idea that tories are better economically has long since been disproven, they've borrowed far more than Labour ever did. They've still spent money too - just on their cronies and supporters and not on essential infrastructure and services.

"He comes from a slightly privileged background" he comes from a VERY privileged background.

"He's actually Scottish, just so posh you can't tell." He might be part scots by heritage he certainly isn't in any meaningful way.

I'd be interested to know exactly how that scots connection came about.

Particularly as he himself talks much of his scots heritage without actually providing this information.

"kind of shows how limited their arguments are" absolutely

Of the 6 running I find raab the least objectionable but I'd prefer almost any other party except tories!

IcedPurple · 18/06/2019 13:00

What’s the point of asking a question he’s not allowed to answer?

Because his reaction would likely be revealing. And many viewers might not have known of the rumours of his alleged intelligence career, so bringing the subject into the public eye is important, considering he is a potential PM.

longwayoff · 18/06/2019 13:09

Reminds me of William Dalrymple, In Xanadu. Great piece of writing from before we decided to restart the Crusades and also turn our country into USA Minor. I'll happily take Rory, or William for that matter, over any of the other dross on offer.

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 18/06/2019 13:29

Ooooh he's 007? So his leadership campaign is part of a top secret mission to save the country? And we're not supposed to notice because he doesn't look like a suave womaniser? How exciting!Grin

Breathlessness · 18/06/2019 13:42

You do wonder why the Telegraph decided a front page article alleging past links with MI6 (based on rumour and innuendo) would be damaging to Rory Stewart.

edsheeranpaidmoretaxthanccola · 18/06/2019 13:46

And this government is about to support Trump against Iran. We need a GE

Alsohuman · 18/06/2019 13:46

Raab @Graphista? “All feminists are bigots” Raab? The one who would show his disdain for democracy by closing parliament down to get his own way? Are you serious or has someone hijacked your account?

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